Platform support

ABSTRACT

A support for a horse to support planks defining a platform comprising a generally A-shaped member wherein the cross bar of the A-shaped member defines orienting means for the support and socket means are provided to receive the end zones of a board spanning a pair of supports according to this invention to define a horse.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,809,183 Lowd et al. May 7, 1974PLATFORM SUPPORT 2,634,172 4/1953 Hollidgi. 182/181 [76] Inventors:George L. Lowd; Robert T. Lowd, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII u both of R0 Box650695, Miami I Fla. 33165 Primary Examiner-Remaldo P. Machado [22]Filed: Aug. 9, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 386,967 [57] ABSTRACT {52] U s C!182/186 A support for a horse to support. planks defining a [51] In. .011/00 platform comprising a generally Ashamed member 58] Fieid 5 226 181wherein the cross bar of the A-shaped member defines l8'2/224 orientingmeans for the support and socket means are provided to receive the endzones of a board spanning [56] References Cited 21 pair of supportsaccording to this invention to define UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 1,101,6106/1914 Allard 182/181 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 PLATFORM SUPPORTFIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a support adapted to bespanned by conventional size boards, for use in making a temporaryplatform, such as are used by tradesmen in the construction field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is perhaps well known, tradesmen in theconstruction industry are often required to construct horses to supporta plank platform, such as when plastering a ceiling or high walls.Ordinarily, such horses have in the part been constructed at the jobsite by fashioning supports in the form of an A-shaped member which isspanned by a board and two such horses are then utilized for supportinga plank-like temporary floor or platform. The making of such supportsdiverts time and material from the main task at hand.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide a prefabricated, sturdy horse stantion or support which isadapted to be reused and, when not in use, be stored conventionally. Thesupport is rigid, strong and sturdy; and the same may be carried fromjob to job on the back of a truck, and the truck unloaded without fearof damaging the supports, which can, therefore, be repeatedly utilizedsetting them up at a different job site.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a A- shaped supportwhich, in pairs, may be utilized with a standard size board spanning thepair to provide a horse for a platform, each support including agenerally A-shaped member with a cross bar and apex zone of the A-shapedmember having orienting surfaces oppositely facing and together with avertical strap means define a socket for receiving the end zone of aboard spanning similar supports, and with orienting surfaces being at anangle such that the outwardly diverging legs of the support provide asturdy horse to support a temporary floor. I i

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a perspective view of asupport constructed in accordance with the instant invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section takenalong the plane indicated by theline 4--4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding. parts6 throughout the several views, and referringparticularly to FIG. I,there is shown a horse generally designated by the numeral 14 whichincludes a first anda second support 16 and 18 which are spanned by astandard size board 20.

Each of the supports, it is seen, comprise a generally A-shaped memberdefining spaced, outwardly and symmetrically diverging leg portions 22and 24, each having an apex end 26 and 28, a terminal end zone 30 and32, and an intermediate zone 34 and 36, said legs diverging at an angleA of between 20 and 60. The apex end of the legs, defining a zone whichis generally designated by the numeral 40, is joined by a spacer portiondesignated by the numeral 42 which defines an upper generally flatsurface 43 and a lower surface 44, the lower surface facing toward theterminal end of the legs. The surface 44 between the legs is of a spansubstantially equal to the thickness T of the board. This surfacediverges with respect to the main plane of the A-shaped member, see FIG.4, at an included angle B which is greater than and is between and Thecross bar defining the A of the support, which is generally designatedby the numeral 48, connects opposite locations on the intermediate zone34 and 36 of the legs and defines a surface 50 which is in a planeparallel to the plane 44 of the spacer portion. The surface 50 is spacedfrom the surface of the spacer portion a distance substantially equal tothe width W of the board, and the parallel surface comprises orientingmeans for the support legs, as seen in FIG. 2.

Extending upwardly from the cross bar 48, a pair of straps 52 and 54 areprovided which connect the bar, legs and spacer portion together in. astructurally rigid member; and there is defined a space between theconfronting surfaces of the straps of a dimension substantially equal tothe thickness T of theboard, the space having a vertical centerlinecolinear with the bisector of the angle of divergence of the legs.

It is thus seen that the confronting surfaces of the straps, bar andspacer portion define a socket in each support, 16 and 18, through whichthe end zones 70 and 72 of the board 20 are adapted to be supported bythe surface 50, which together with the surface 44 orients the legs ofone support to diverge with respect to the legs of a companion support,as shown in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, end caps 80 and 82 may beprovided on the distal ends of the legs of each support so that the samedo not mar the surface of a building.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for a standard size board of a character, istic width andthickness, said support comprising:

A. a generally A-shaped member including a. spaced, outwardlysymmetrically diverging leg portions defining a main plane, each legportion having an apex zone and a terminal end zone and said legsdiverging from the apex zone at an included angle of between 20 and 45,

b. a spacer portion spanning the apex zone of the legs andhaving a firstsurface facing the terminal end of the legs and of a span between theapex zone of the legs greater than the thickness of the board, and asupport surface facing away from the terminal end of the legs definingatop surface of the support; and

c. a bar joining opposite intermediate locations of the legs and havingasecondsurface spaced from said first surface a distance substantiallyequal to the width of said board, andconfrontingsaid first surface,

B. a first strap and a second strap, each of said straps extendingbetween said spacer portion and said bar in equispaced relation of thebisectrix of said included angle and each having a surface confrontingthe opposite strap and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equalto the thickness of said board,

C. said first and second surfaces and the confronting surfaces of saidstraps defining a socket sized to receive the end zone of a standardsized board,

D. the first and second surfaces being generally parallel to one anotherand each defining planes diverging with respect to the main plane at anincluded angle opening toward the terminal end of said legs which isgreater than 90 and in the range of between 95 and 120,

E. the terminal end of said legs each defining a surface parallel tosaid first and second surfaces.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bar comprises alength ofmetal including a leg flange in the main plane, defining arigidifying member, said flange being welded to the intermediate portionof said legs.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strap is welded tosaid bar and said spacer portion.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the confronting surfacesof said straps include a flange in a plane perpendicular to said firstand second surfaces defining a partial wall extending away from saidmain plane and defining a well for said socket.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said A- shaped member andsaid spacer portion comprise a generally V-shaped integral length ofmetal and said legs having a rigidifying flange extending generally fromsaid main plane in a common direction.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plastic cup-shapedmember is provided on the terminal ends of said legs.

7. A support as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a secondsupport as set forth in claim 1, said supports being in spaced relationand a board of a length greater than the distance between the supportsspanning said supports and of a size such that the end zones of saidboard are adapted to nest in the sockets to define a support horse.

1. A support for a standard size board of a characteristic width andthickness, said support comprising: A. a generally A-shaped memberincluding a. spaced, outwardly symmetrically diverging leg portionsdefining a main plane, each leg portion having an apex zone and aterminal end zone and said legs diverging from the apex zone at anincluded angle of between 20* and 45*, b. a spacer portion spanning theapex zone of the legs and having a first surface facing the terminal endof the legs and of a span between the apex zone of the legs greater thanthe thickness of the board, and a support surface facing away from theterminal end of the legs defining a top surface of the support; and c. abar joining opposite intermediate locations of the legs and having asecond surface spaced from said first surface a distance substantiallyequal to the width of said board, and confronting said first surface, B.a first strap and a second strap, each of said straps extending betweensaid spacer portion and said bar in equispaced relation of the bisectrixof said included angle and each having a surface confronting theopposite strap and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal tothe thickness of said board, C. said first and second surfaces and theconfronting surfaces of said straps defining a socket sized to receivethe end zone of a standard sized board, D. the first and second surfacesbeing generally parallel to one another and each defining planesdiverging with respect to the main plane at an included angle openingtoward the terminal end of said legs which is greater than 90* and inthe range of between 95* and 120*, E. the terminal end of said legs eachdefining a surface parallel to said first and second surfaces.
 2. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bar comprises a length ofmetal including a leg flange in the main plane, defining a rigidifyingmember, said flange being welded to the intermediate portion of saidlegs.
 3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strap is weldedto said bar and said spacer portion.
 4. The device as set forth in claim3 wherein the confronting surfaces of said straps include a flange in aplane perpendicular to said first and second surfaces defining a partialwall extending away from said main plane and defining a well for saidsocket.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said A-shapedmember and said spacer portion comprise a generally V-shaped integrallength of metal and said legs having a rigidifying flange extendinggenerally from said main plane in a common direction.
 6. The device asset forth in claim 1 wherein a plastic cup-shaped member is provided onthe terminal ends of said legs.
 7. A support as set forth in claim 1 incombination with a second support as set forth in claim 1, said supportsbeing in spaced relation and a board of a length greater than thedistance between the supports spanning said supports and of a size suchthat the end zones of said board are adapted to nest in the sockets todefine a support horse.